Agreed. I'm with you 100% on those issues QLDER. Rare I know [icon_wink
Also agree with some other points people have raised:
- Draw to be released in full (including days/times) before the season
- More reward for developing players (defined as players making NRL debut with club and then various milestones - 50, 100, 150, 200 games, 5 seasons, 7 seasons, 10 seasons, representative honours)
- Single administrative body responsible for league throughout Australia. NSWRL and QRL etc responsible only for carrying out the decree of the national body
- NRL (or whatever the governing body from previous point ends up being) enforces strict guidelines on players and officials who bring the game into disrepute, and apply punishments that prevent them from just moving clubs. ie, deregistration etc.
And on some other issues that are sort of touched on:
- Define locations where expansion is to be approached, and prioritise them. eg Perth, Adelaide, Central Coast NSW, SE QLD, 2nd NZ etc.
- Provide significant incentives for Sydney-based teams to offer themselves for relocation. eg salary cap exemptions, cash incentives (eg annual grants for their first 10 years not a giant lump sum as they offered for joint ventures), national body to establish and fund grassroots development in areas where it's needed (eg WA, Vic and SA) to ensure groundswell of local talent to start coming through.
- Desist from giving handouts to existing heartland NRL clubs. If they go broke, cut them.
- Similar to the Titans, allow consortiums to apply for licenses to the above areas but require proof of various criteria to enable the national body to authorise their creation. Similar to what the AFL is now doing with the Gold Coast.
- Aim of this is to expand the game without expanding the number of clubs beyond the number of quality players available, and funding available. Smart expansion basically.
The result of the above should see a competition of no more than 18 clubs, but with only 4 or 5 Sydney-based clubs in the national competition. NSW cup will expand to include all the current Sydney clubs in some form so they remain in existence, and can form feeder relationships with their national clubs as is the case with the QLD Cup. Honestly, I see very little future for Cronulla, the Bulldogs, Manly and both of the Roosters and Souths (one can survive there I'm sure) long term. Their areas are either too small or shrinking in terms of youth or league support. It's up to them to see the writing on the wall and look for greener pastures in the highlighted expansion zones.
None of this stuff is going to happen in my lifetime, but it's nice to think about.
Also agree with some other points people have raised:
- Draw to be released in full (including days/times) before the season
- More reward for developing players (defined as players making NRL debut with club and then various milestones - 50, 100, 150, 200 games, 5 seasons, 7 seasons, 10 seasons, representative honours)
- Single administrative body responsible for league throughout Australia. NSWRL and QRL etc responsible only for carrying out the decree of the national body
- NRL (or whatever the governing body from previous point ends up being) enforces strict guidelines on players and officials who bring the game into disrepute, and apply punishments that prevent them from just moving clubs. ie, deregistration etc.
And on some other issues that are sort of touched on:
- Define locations where expansion is to be approached, and prioritise them. eg Perth, Adelaide, Central Coast NSW, SE QLD, 2nd NZ etc.
- Provide significant incentives for Sydney-based teams to offer themselves for relocation. eg salary cap exemptions, cash incentives (eg annual grants for their first 10 years not a giant lump sum as they offered for joint ventures), national body to establish and fund grassroots development in areas where it's needed (eg WA, Vic and SA) to ensure groundswell of local talent to start coming through.
- Desist from giving handouts to existing heartland NRL clubs. If they go broke, cut them.
- Similar to the Titans, allow consortiums to apply for licenses to the above areas but require proof of various criteria to enable the national body to authorise their creation. Similar to what the AFL is now doing with the Gold Coast.
- Aim of this is to expand the game without expanding the number of clubs beyond the number of quality players available, and funding available. Smart expansion basically.
The result of the above should see a competition of no more than 18 clubs, but with only 4 or 5 Sydney-based clubs in the national competition. NSW cup will expand to include all the current Sydney clubs in some form so they remain in existence, and can form feeder relationships with their national clubs as is the case with the QLD Cup. Honestly, I see very little future for Cronulla, the Bulldogs, Manly and both of the Roosters and Souths (one can survive there I'm sure) long term. Their areas are either too small or shrinking in terms of youth or league support. It's up to them to see the writing on the wall and look for greener pastures in the highlighted expansion zones.
None of this stuff is going to happen in my lifetime, but it's nice to think about.
